Lather machine



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. C. JOHNSON ET AL LATHER MACHINE Elma/whom Jameson LOl-N 0. Joumsom F/ql Gannon (l. 1 A

7 w I E 23 0 II l1 H119- v x M Q Sept. 9, 1952 Filed April 11, 1945 AW m a ay an G. c. JOHNSON ET AL 2,610,090

Sept. 9, 1952 LATHER MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 11, 1945 w w \m \W NW7 w Gozoou C Joumsom ALDEN 0. Jonmsom at 614.- 442k Mow-a Sept. 9, 1952 G. c. JOHNSON ET AL 2,610,090

LATHER MACHINE Filed April 11, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet a GORDON Q. Jonmsow Awem 0. acumen Way Sept. 9, 1952 ca. c. JOHNSON ET AL 2,610,090

LATHER MACHINE Filed April 11, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Gozoow Q. Jounsow Amen O. Jounsoro Patented Sept. 9, i952- LATHER MACHINE Gordon 0. Johnson and Alden 0..Johnson, Minneapolis, Minn, assignors to John Oster Mannfacturing Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application April 11, 1945, Serial No. 587,692

. 11 Claims. (01. 299-83) This invention relates to lather making machines for use in barber shops, wash rooms, and like places where it is desired to produce soap lather for shaving or washing purposes, and the primary object is to provide motor operated means for quickly, efficiently, and economically producing warm rich lather from a cake of soap.

Heretofore, lather making machines employed either a liquid soap which the barber had to mix and keep on hand, or they had brushes or the like wiping across the surface of a bar or cake of solid soap. The patent to Jensen No. 2,052,569 is an example of the former type of lather making machine, and the patent to Rol- .stad et al., No. 2,344,170, is an example of the latter type. In the case of the liquid soapvariety, since it is :not feasible to mix up small batches of the liquid soap, the inconvenience of having to store larger amounts thereof coupled with the messiness of :making up the solution was an inherent objection; and while the other brush type overcame this objection, its dependence upon brushes made it unsanitary and subject to considerable servficing since the brushes wore out in a relatively Both have serious disadvantages.

:short time. t

Recognizing the objections of these lathermaking machines of the past, it is an especially important object of this invention to provide a lather making machine which makes its own soap solution from an easily replaced bar or cake of soap and water entirely without the need for brushes or the like wiping across the surface of the soap.

More specifically it is an object of this inven' tion to provide a lather making machine in which a soap solution "is made solelyby the action of water moving recurrently across the surface of a bar or cake of solid soap.

A further object is to provide a lather making machine in which hot water is employed, and in which it is heated, but wherein the water is only heated as it is actually needed and used,

with a result that it is unnecessary to provide a reservoir or supply of water with means for keeping it permanently heated. p

A further object is to provide a novel arrangement of devices whereby a single motor is operative to simultaneously circulate water past the heating element and into the lather mixing chamber, while also rotating certain of the latherwill appear as thedescriptionproceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combi-= nation and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come withinthe scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one complete example of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Fig. l is a sectional elevation of the machine as seen substantially on the line I-l in Figure 2.

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the machine,with fractional parts broken away to show certain passageways.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional plan as on line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the machine, with parts broken away for illustration purposes.

Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in section, as on line 55 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the machine and with the electric circuit wiring shown diagrammatically.

Fig. '7 is a detail plan view, with fractional parts broken away, showing a modified form of mixing device.

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation on line 88 in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view, with parts broken. away, illustrating a further modification in the soap receptacle or cup of the mixing device.

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation on line l0l0 in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine and with various parts sectioned away on line I Il I in Fig. 3.

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional plan view on the irregular line I2-l2 in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view on line l3l3 in Fig. 11. r it Fig. 14 is a detail plan view of a soap scraper disk, which may but need not be used, a frac-' bodymember A, and is releasably secured by a p single knurled nut l6 which is threaded upon the upper end of a stud bolt l1 anchored in the block A.

The body block A is provided with four chambers D, E, F and G, chamber D being a motor compartment, E being the chamber in which the lather is formed; chamber F being a water reservoir, and chamber Gbeing an enlargement in a water circulating and heating passageway.

The chambers D and G open downwardly and.

are normally closed by a cover plate [8 concealed within the base B and releasably secured by screws or bolts l9. The chambersEandF projectupwardly into the cover C anol are of course nor-" mally closed thereby. I may here be noted that the cover C has a centering flange '20 (Figs. 1 and 11) which fits snugly within the chamber recessE- in the block A, thus accurately locating the cover C on the main body casting of the machine.- This plate "I82 Thusthe motor simultaneously, rotates the cup-25; in the'ch'amberE, and a water pump 26 in the plate la andIoperatesboth elements at the: same speed.- of: rotation. The cup 25 is rigidly butreleasably: secured to: the upper end ofsthe shaft-why. a nut'2l:

zThe'upper end portionof. the shaft rotates in a bushing 28 in a bearing portion 29 f: the: body casting, and a watertight seal. is effectively formed by a packing ring 30 disposed in a tapered annular recess. and yieldinglyiheldin place by a'spring '31, tension onzwhich is main.- tainedby-a: washer or plate'32i secured at 33;.as shown in Fig. l.

Thalower end portion of shaft: 2 k rotates in aaselfealigning spherical bearing. 34 held 1 in place by a keeper 35 secured as at 3%, and therebelow extends." through a" sealing. ring 3-! maintained: by ali'spring 38.5 the tension of which is regulatedby a threaded plug 39 disposed in a recess ill. The pumpelement 2% is: of the vaned, centrifugal type, and is secured by a nut 4!, the pump chambier fl being closed bya cover plates l3 fastened asat 44:

When thepump: 231s rotatedit draws-waterfrom the reservoir F through a: duct 4*5 that, communicates with the recess 40 (Fig. 1) andfthen expelsthe Water through aduct 46. (Figs. 11'. and 12) into the heating: chamber'G which inturn communicates with the lathering; chamber E through apassageway or duct 41; This latter duct terminates in a nozzle 68; (Figs. 1' and 11) thatiis axially disposed over the cup- 25'and is controlled as to the volume of its discharge by a valve 49 having an. exposed and easily accessible knurled head 56. Air is admitted-to the lathering chamberthrough-a ductthat opens to theatmosphere (Figs. 1 and2) Referring again to Figs. 11 and 13 it will be seen that within the. chamber G there is dis- Dosed-areceptacle 52 that is openat its bottom whereit'is rigidly secured, as at53, in the plate 8. Hence the receptacle 52' projects centrally upwardly into the chamber G to define a. restricted annular space. 54- between itself and the cylindrical Wallof the chamber. A- heating coil when the latter is rotated by the motor 22.

.4 55 is contained within the receptacle 52 to heat the same and as the relatively thin annular flow of Water passes upwardly around the comparatively large heating surface of the receptacle it will be evident that the water will be quickly and efficiently heated, when to be used.

The=cup -25=isof such shapeandsize'as to freely but snuglyreceive-a cake ofsoap 56 which sufficiently adheres to the cup so as to spin with it As shownin Fig. l the cup 25 is provided with plain vertical walls. In the design shown in Figs. '7 andB the-outer surface of the cup wall is providedwithvverticalbeads or corrugations Bl, and in this-instance the opposed wall of the lathering chamber issimilarly provided with embossed ribsor corrugations 58 and these cooperate with the corrugations 51 to churn and render more creamy the lather produced. In the modified form of soap receptacle shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the wallsthereof are; provided-with. profusely distributed perforations 59-. also effective; in. quicklyproducingv the desired consistency of;

lather.

The. disk. 60" shown resting upon the soap in.-

Fig. l isofwafe'rlike form haying azcentral openeing 6| into which hot water may, be directed from 'thenozzle 48. I -he-v bottomsurface of". the disk is provided with'radially extending flutes or.

corrugations 62' through which the water .is,-.cen.-

trifuged outwardly over the soap, surface: and which also form edges :thatzhave-scraping contact withrthe cake of soap uponrelative. rotation .betweenthe-disk and-the snap to veryygradually. scrape or'wear offthe surface portions of ,the, soap; to facilitate dissolving.thesoapinthe water. The: disk; as. shownrin Figs. 14-15,'-.preferablyconsists of two complementing;- halves. or sections. conenected by dowel pins 450%.

In-theconstruction illustrated. in Fig. 1., when the motor 22. isaenergized-itrotatestheshaftzzb, the cup 25 andthe'soap cake Stat relatively high speed, while simultaneously operating: the. pump 26-to supply. hotwater to, and throughrthe nozzle 48: and" down into, the disk" opening 61. Since the disk 60 is of fairly heavy metal andinno way'restrained withrespecttothe cup-25,-it, too, will rotate by reason of. thefioating frictional contact with'the-isoapg but it will'not spinas fast since itis notpositively; or: mechanically; rotated; Furthermore the presence of: the; gradually sup.- plied flow of. Water will-'have-a retarding effect on disk rotation, and-particularly since such fluid supply will tend to lubricate the contacting sur' faces; Hence, where the; disk. tdisi used itassists: the. action of: the; water flowing: across the surface-"of the soap,"to..dissolve'. the tsoap'and make, the soap" solution. needed; to; produce: the lather; However, since repeatedzcontact b,etween1the:waterandtsoap is necessary'to prodcce asoapsolution, .the' explanation: for: the:successfulz operation of the machineno?doubtliesiin? theefa'ct thatthe. various parts thereof? aref so disposed'i and ar rangedwith respect toeach other that theyboact to not only impart-flow to the: watertacross; the top or exposed surface'ofth'e soap (i; e. exposed. to the water) but? also: direct the? fiowrinv. such manner as a to redirectthe water leaving: the; peripheraledge? of theisoapoverthe: top :there'of'and thereby effect recurrent flow of; the water across the exposed surface: of: the: soap.-

Such redirection of the water andformingjsoap'. solution across the top of the: soap, is no doubt explained by the. fact that the sidewall of the soap receptacle, the top of thesoapthereinand the underside of the cover define a relatively, closed chamber, the bottom and sides of which are spinning and into the center of which water; is discharged. In, any event; theaction thus produced will quickly and efiectively. produce a,-rich the cup, and into (the annular space between the cup and the adjacent side wall of chamber E and then out through the spout 63-(Figs..2, 3, 4 and 5) 5 With certain 1' types of soap or with other variable conditions,.

into the hand of theoperator.

where greater lathering efliciency is required, then either of the devices shown in Figs. 7-8.:or 9-10Jmay be usedto advantage.

-While. the cavity in the body orihousingin,

whichthe cup, 25 revolveschas. been identified generally as the lathering chamber E, strictly.

speaking the lathering chamber, i. e.; the zone in which the primary lather is produced, is the space bounded by the top of the soap ,cake,.the inner side wall of the cup and the wallsz'of the cavity in the underside of the cover C whichregisters with the cavity E. As stated above. the lather which forms in this space disgorges therefrom over the edge of the cup and enters the annular space between the side of the cupand the adjacent side wall of the chamber E, where it is conditioned to the desired consistency.

The various unitsof the device are all controlled by a single control member, namely a knob 64 (see Fig. 4), and this is preferably located in such a position that it may be operated by the same hand that is placed to receive lather from the spout 63. l

The knob 64 is mounted upon the upper end of a rod 65, which is vertically slidable in the body block A, and both rod and knob are normally held in a yieldably raised position bya spring '66 (Fig. 4). .At its lower end the rod 65 projects into the hollow base B where it engages a lever 61, fulcrumed as at 68, and which lever tiltably supports a conventional mercury switch 69.

In the wiring diagram indicated in Fig. 6, the main current supply wires 10 and H are shown as in permanent circuit, through wires 12 and 13, respectively, with the heating element 55. This is a preferable arrangement since the wires 'l-ll-ll are contained in a cord or cable having a conventional plug connection with a wall socket, and when the machine is to be usedit is convenient to first make such a connection a few moments in advance so that there will be a preliminary heating of water before the lathering mechanism is operated. It is to be understood, however, that if so desired a separate control switch for the element 55 may be used, or it may be connected in circuit with the mercury switch 69 or with'the motor through a delayed action switch so that the heating element will be energized in advance of the motor.

The feed circuit Ill-ll is connected to the motor 22 through wires 14 and 15, the latter of which includes the mercury switch 69. The various wires may be conveniently secured by an insulated anchor strip 16, and the feed circuit cablemay conveniently extend through an opening 11 in the base flange.

To operate the device the operator first closes the circuit to the heating element 55, in any of the ways above suggested. After a predetermined time interval he then places his hand under the spout 63, andwith a finger of the same or the other hand depresses theknob 64 against the tension of the spring 66. This tilts and closes the switch 69 .to'energizethe motor 22. ,The mo, tor then operates the, pump 26 to pass water-from the reservoir F up through the heating chamber andto the lathering area where the soap cake: is. then "bein'grapidly rotated to produce the lather which then fills the intermediate spacesand is discharged from the machine through'spout;=63. As soon as the desired amount ,oflather has,

been discharged the operator merelyreleases the:

knob 64 thus. again opening the switch and ,de-

energizing themotor to stop the operation From the foregoing description taken in-hconnection with the accompanying drawingsit :will

be, readily understood that this invention pro-M,

vides. alathermaking machine which produces its own soap solution from solid bar soap directly and without brushes.

in the lathering chamber wiping acrossthe soap, and that as a result of this manner of producing theqsolution proper. automatically assured, 1 and as soon as the soap, solution reaches lather-1 making concentration the agitation within the concentration thereof is lathering chamber converts itinto lather.

We claim: W

1. In a lather mixer, a soap cake holder mounted forrotation to rotatethe soap cake, means for contacting the surface'of the soap cake to remove particles of soap by sucbrrotation, a pump for supplying a controlled flow of. cake to produce lather anda. motor for simultaneously operating-the pump liquid to the soap and rotating said holder.

2. In a lather mixer, a soap cake holder mounted for rotationto' rotate the soap cake,

means for contacting the surface of; the soap cake.

to remove particles-of soap by such rotation; a pump for supplying a controlled flow of liquid to the soap cake .to produce lather, and a motor having a shaft projecting axiallyin both directions therefrom, one end-of the shaft beingioperative to rotate the holder and the other end of the shaftbeing connected with the pump to operate the. same.

- 3. In a lather mixer, a cup mounted for rotation about a vertical axis andfor containing acake of soap to be rotated therewith, means for rotating the cup, a scraper element for resting upon the soap cake within the cup walls, said scraper element having a central aperture adaptmeans for directing liqed to receive liquid, and uid to said aperture.

4. In a lather mixer, a cup mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and for containing a cake of soap to be rotated therewith, means for rotating the cup, a scraper element for resting upon the soap cake within the cup walls, said scraper element having a central aperture adapted to receive liquid, and means for supplying liquid to the aperture, the said scraper element having its bottom surface provided with recesses to spread the liquid over the surface of the soap caketo form lather under the spinning action of the cake against the scraper element.

5. In a lather mixer, a chamber having a soap support rotatably mounted therein, the top of a cake of soap held by said support together with the adjacent walls of the chamber and the soap support defining a lathering chamber, a liquid reservoir, a liquid heating chamber having a heating element associated therewith, a pump for circulating liquid from the reservoir through the heating chamber to the lathering chamber,

means fore simultaneously: operating; the: pump andi rotating:th'e soap su port:. v v

f 6 Inst- 1 tn rim'iz'e a"chamberzhavingramnpar war" y bpeni-ng motorzdrivenzcurnmountedithereeiii 'rotatiori about a -verticailaxis andzadapitedi to ont'ai-n a -soapiicake imeanszfon discharging fi waterrin -lsmalli regulated?voiume onto t1'1easoap2 in:- the cup rior r admixture-I: with": soapiparticles eroded fromithe -surface-lofEthe soap toi rproduc a liquidsoap:solution; said chamber providing-:10; anianh ula'n space'iabout theicup, to rece'weelatlier from within thecup by centrif-ugalrforceiincident to' rotatiom ori the' ciip; and a'lspontiior 'delivering lather from said annular: space to theexterior 'of thazmixerptnarwaniof said chamber ahd trie ex- 15i terior 'wall o the cup havingfopposed 'cooperat=' ingi pro-,iection'si relatively movable n opposite directions when: thezicup iszrotated or. condition? thealatheri before .ititi's s discharged: thronghz the a spoon I a '7. Irina: latlier mixer; -aabody nieinber 'havmg' a z chamber provided: with: ahdischarge spout; a soap: sUpport -rotatably? mountedin said cham bem alwaterrreservoirg aizwater 'heating chamhenr a pump having an inlet:communicating with tne reservoirfiand an oiitlet con'iinuri-ie'ating With tl'ie heating chamber, said heating chamber I'i'aVi'ng an outlet comm'unicating with said chamber containing the soap sup'por't' to feed heated' water theretolat a .pointil'sobstantia axially abovethe' soap "support; an'd a motor aving' drivin'g 'conn'ections with'the pump arid-i Sciap suppQrt- -to simultaneously foperate Moth;-

8:--A lather? making machine: comprising? 1 a housing; soap holding means:-rotatably moiinted ir-r'thesh'ousing and:coacting withzlportions thereof' tordefinei a lathermg chamber; said soap'hold ing'emeans ibeing adapted: itozholdiaibar 'of soap: with-at 'least' one surfaoe' ther'eof:fexposedfito the interior: of i the latherin'g; chamber the housing having arr-air inlet leadingdirectlylto the -latiier=- ing; chamber-land having a} discharge port for lathemz. a1 restricted: water inlet leadingto the lathering:chamberxarrdarrangedito supply water toithe exposed rsurf ace: -o'f a I bar ozt soap heldthe soap holding means in quantities small enough -for proper lath'ertin'iaki'n'g ;::ar-water reservoir to hold a supply of wateri' conduit: means: connecting. thefreservoirwith;'thE rBStiiCtGd WatGi' in1et, part"j of". saidconduit I, means providing a heating i'chamberg a heater" associated: With theheating; chamber. for: heating water: therein so that the water isiheated v as iti flows from 1 the reservoir to the lathering chamb'er1 arid means for revolvingjthe soapv-holdingimearis to spin the bar of; soap; held thereby. and; by the? resulting! tween xthe waterfarrdzthe:exposewsurfaee-aofirthe:

9'.'-A lather: makingemachine comprisifigz '1 means defining aiilatheriifgi chamber); soap holds.

ingtfmeansradap'tedtozhoid sb'ariof scap-with'zone; su'rIa'ce thereof expbseditm het'interior of the;

' latheringl chamber; meansafor: introducingi air:

and water? directlyintoi: the; latheringichambergz means forreffiectingzlathen making-i Contact: bee tween: -.the? airpwatersand lthe'lexp'osedisurface of; the $6211 to form lather-rinirsaid IatIIeringAchameberg eansidfinin'gs'atlathericonditioningechama ber open 1 communication: with: thei lathering;

chamber? to: receive: lathenz' therefrom; agitating: means: irri theta conditioning: chambers operable? upon lather therem toi-whip thei same intoiae. cream -consistent:W11andinieitriszidefining aalather discharge port: leadingz from the conditioning? ciiamtierw v lw-Thezlather' mkingimachineiof c1aim:9: fur:-'- ther characterized by 'theirfactlthatfsaidi fowiritroducing water intoi thezlatheringichamberz includesaabreservoirieonduitmeansHeading from s.

E. the? reservoir: tot'th'e i latheringi' chambers, iparti'of:

said condi'iit means providingaiheatingchamber: and; 9,: heaterrrfor: heatingfwaterzin: then heating v chamber:- u 1 1 1) Theflatherrmaking machineP'oflclaim'Q ii therrcharacterizedby: theiract tliatzthasoap hol'daing means hasia cylindricalzsideiwallLconcentivic: to andispace'd imm'stheiadjaoentlside' wail' offithe latheringlicham'bersto -thus-:define=ithe:1ather:cone ditioning; chamber; and wherein; said: agitatingi 11 means com-prises"corrugatiorisron saidiasidezwa'llst- GORDON C15 JOHNSON-J ALDEN OLJQHNSONW.

CE Sr CIEEED The renewing 1 references are of record in the" fileof this" patent? UN ITED STATES: PATENTS 

